Day 14

Be Still:  Dear Father, we want to love like Jesus does, but it can be so difficult.  Please increase Your love in us.  In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Be Strengthened:  John 13:31-38

³¹When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. ³²If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

³³"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

³⁴"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

³⁶Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"  Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."

³⁷Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."  ³⁸Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”

Be Stretched:  Jesus commanded us to love as He does.  Do you find loving others hard or easy?  When people look at we who claim to follow Christ, what do they see?  Are we known for our love of each other?  If not, why not?  Spend time today in prayer and honest reflection considering what it means to love as Jesus does.